Windows 8 OEM Key Not Working

[alphanumeric]

Amen to that! It rejects my key every time, and yes, the one I extracted from the chip. Forget about the one that shows up in System also. Mine starts with zeros which it rejects right off. I tried several of the generic keys listed here and they reject also.

The "Product ID:" as shown on the system page is not the Product Code, two different things entirely. I do believe if you hit that link a second time from the same PC, it won't ask for the product code the second time. Like when you start the 8.0 download and quit, then go back for 8.1. When I went back for 8.1 I'm pretty sure it it didn't ask me for a product code as I already entered it the first time. The OP also talks about it generating a code at the end. It does but for me its always been the original code I entered to do the download in the first place. That also makes me think 8 or 8.1 was already downloaded on that PC.

Agreed! For me, I had to use my original Windows 8 key in accordance with Paul Thurrott's instructions to get the iso, which in turn generates a code equal to the one you entered, then I had to use the generic key to install, then use my original to activate.

Yeah, it shows you the code at the end I guess as a reminder to use that code. It caught me off guard the first time until I realized it was the one I entered originally at the start. My guess is somebody downloaded 8.0 on that PC before the OP did his download.

 

[popeye]

I called MS and recovered my lost 7 to 8 Pro $15 upgrade key from 1+year ago (Nov 2012). It works to download the ISO's. Ya-Hoo!

I see a clean install in my future.

Will the embedded OEM UEFI key affect anything?

 

[genet]

Windows 8 or Windows Server 2012 installation may fail with error message: The product key entered does not match any of the Windows images available for installation. Enter a different product key

When installing Windows 8 and Window Server 2012, setup.exe uses the following priority logic for product keys:

1. Answer file (Unattended file, EI.cfg, or PID.txt)
2. OA 3.0 product key in the BIOS/Firmware
3. Product key entry screen

edit:

Note: The PID.txt file is no longer needed.

You have an OEM computer with UEFI firmware (BIOS) embedded Windows 8/8.1 (core) product key and you try to install Windows 8.1 Pro.

Installation fails with error message: The product key entered does not match any of the Windows images available for installation. Enter a different product key.

To resolve this problem, download the latest installation media. The error message does not appear in this new installation media.

1. Download Windows 8.1 Pro installation media (see this link for help).

2. Boot the computer from your Windows 8.1 Pro USB/DVD.

3. Enter your Windows 8/8.1 Pro product key (see screenshot below).

 

[alphanumeric]

Oh, that's nice to know that an answer file will override the embedded OEM key. My laptop came with Core, on a clean install it would have been nice to go right to Pro instead of doing it though add features after the install was done. Like you say, 8.1 ignores the 8.0 embedded OEM key so its a non issue now. Still its another nice little tidbit to file away.

 

[popeye]

Will the embedded OEM UEFI key affect anything?

Only if you have UEFI embedded Windows 8 product key and install Windows 8.

If you have UEFI embedded Windows 8 product key and install Windows 8.1, then you enter Windows 8.1 generic (or legitimate) product key.

Windows 8 or Windows Server 2012 installation may fail with error message: The product key entered does not match any of the Windows images available for installation. Enter a different product key

When installing Windows 8 and Window Server 2012, setup.exe uses the following priority logic for product keys:

1. Answer file (Unattended file, EI.cfg, or PID.txt)
2. OA 3.0 product key in the BIOS/Firmware
3. Product key entry screen

Thanks a bunch, that's good info.